A Conversation With Samuel R. DelanyAn interview with Jayme Lynn Blaschke
On getting credit as a writer:
"Half a dozen years after Dhalgren appeared, someone sent me
a recently written grammar book, for people learning English, in
which -- among the various examples of American writing scattered
throughout -- two or three paragraphs of Dhalgren were quoted as an
example of economical and informative prose. The writer talked a
bit about the structure of the sentences, made one or two points
about their arrangement and internal form. At the time, I remember, I was overwhelmed."

On by Adam Robertsreviewed by Nick Gevers
This book is all about vertigo. The world has turned at 90 degrees; gravity
now operates horizontally. Humans and other creatures, compelled to adapt
to this horrifying disequilibrium, inhabit ledges, crevices, and caverns,
whatever niches remain to them; and as the centuries pass and the new
barbarism takes hold, the golden age, the time when everything was
reassuringly level, fades into legend. One false step, and you fall off the
Worldwall, and you may fall forever.

Colonization: Aftershocks by Harry Turtledovereviewed by Greg L. Johnson
This is the latest novel in a series that began with Worldwar: In the Balance, and portrays an Earth in which an
alien invasion interrupted World War II. By the time of this book, it is
the 60s, much of the planet is occupied by the aliens, known to
themselves as The Race, to humans as the Lizards. The author
does a masterful job of meshing his world's history with our own, and it's a lot of fun spotting the differences in people's
lives.

Geeks With Booksa column by Rick Klaw
Rick Klaw gives us a look at how things work from behind the counter of a book store.
This time, he tells us whether movie tie-ins actually help book sales. And guest reviewer
Peggy Hailey gives us her opinion of some new Terry Pratchett covers.

Quantum Musings by Michael Gallant, Raymond M. Coulombe and Timothy O. Goyettereviewed by Lisa DuMond
When's the last time you just had a really good time reading a book?
Have you ever finished an anthology and thought, "I'd really like to hang out with those guys!"? If it's been
far too long -- for instance, if your answer was something like never -- you're long overdue for a treat.
Fortunately, if you're in the mood for a bit of fun, this is just what you need.

Thief of Time by Terry Pratchettreviewed by Steven H Silver
It begins with a strange woman approaching Jeremy Clockson, a clockmaker
who is such a stickler for accuracy that he drives the other clockmakers crazy. Jeremy
quickly takes up the challenge to create the most accurate timepiece ever conceived, the
mythical glass clock. This challenge brings him into conflict with the Monks of History
as he threatens to bring the world to an end through no intentions of his own.

Dislocated Fictionsa column by Gabriel Chouinard
Gabriel Chouinard's column is dedicated to exposing the risk-takers working in SF and fantasy. He
calls them the Next Wave, in a nod to the obvious influences that the New Wave writers had upon them.
Here, he gives us some ideas on changing a publisher's mind after they scuppered a book and he tells us
what titles have got him buzzed.

The Sacred Pool by L. Warren Douglasreviewed by Regina Lynn Preciado
This is not really a fantasy novel. It's a history book, set in a time of change, when
Romans clash with Gauls, and Christians merge with pagans. Magic is math and time is mutable and as our heroine
Pierrette observes, many complicated concepts become "self-evident, once you know about zero and infinity."

Sewerelf by Dan Weissreviewed by Lisa DuMond
Asher Archer's daughter wants desperately not to grow up. True, the technology to keep her young is there; she can remain
5 years old indefinitely, but it's going to require a mighty effort on Archer's part to obtain the extra time. First, he's going
to have to get them back from a rival company after an extremely hostile takeover that has taken him far away. Fortunately -- or
maybe, unfortunately -- a mysterious face from his past has returned to lend a hand.

Forthcoming Bookscompiled by Neil Walsh
Here's a sampling of some of the F&SF books that are headed our way in the coming months...

Perdido Street Station by China Miévillereviewed by Hank Luttrell
The first few pages are from the viewpoint of a bitter and alien character, and written in a dark
and obscure style. This voice seems appropriate and accurate, even accessible, after you get to know the character.
Next up, the protagonist Isaac and his insect-girlfriend are introduced. He is big and blustery, an eccentric,
obsessive, maverick scientist. She is a bohemian artist, outcast from her exotic race of hominid bugs. Their
relationship is incredibly romantic and also forbidden and dangerous.

Summers at Castle Auburn by Sharon Shinnreviewed by Victoria Strauss
Coriel Halsing is the illegitimate child of a noble line. She
lives a divided life: nine months of the year with her
grandmother, a village wise woman and healer to whom she is
apprenticed, and the three months of summer at Castle Auburn, where
she lives the life of a highborn courtier.

Treasure at the Heart of the Tanglewood by Meredith Ann Piercereviewed by Victoria Strauss
Brown Hannah lives at the edge of the Tanglewood, a dark, trackless
forest surrounded by barren moors. According to the peasants who
eke a meager existence at the Tanglewood's edges, a great treasure
lies at the forest's heart, though none of them know what the
treasure is. Mounted knights come from faraway to seek it, riding
into the wood as if bespelled, never returning. Only Hannah knows
the truth: there's no treasure in the Tanglewood, just the
powerful wizard she has served ever since she can remember.

A Conversation With Miller LauAn interview with John Berlyne
On growing up in Edinburgh:
"Well, I grew up in Edinburgh -- it's my home town. In fact, you could say I am a survivor of
Irvine Welsh's Trainspotting generation. I grew up at the same time, in the same housing estates he talks
about in his novels. What I feel Walsh chooses to ignore is the strength and warmth of the Scots
character -- qualities which I hope are evident in my own writing -- and that's sad. He chooses not to
focus on our dignity and humour but rather on the grimness of growing up in that environment."

Talisker by Miller Laureviewed by John Berlyne
We meet Duncan Talisker just as he is released from an Edinburgh prison, having served 15 years for a series of murders that he didn't commit.
No sooner is he back on the streets than another death occurs with the very same modus operandi.
We also learn that this story also takes place on Sutra, a place that
very much conforms to Tolkien's definition of a secondary world. Sutra's indigenous race are The Fine -- a Celtic
people who seem to be living around the time of Highlander. Sutra is also home to The Sidhe, a race of magic-wielding
shape-shifters (and Lau's elaboration on the Sidhe of Celtic mythology) who interact and co-exist with The Fine, but clearly
have origins and agendas all of their very own.

Babylon 5.1TV reviews by Rick Norwood
Rick tells us what is planned following the success of the TV adaptation of Dune and
offers his thoughts on the recent DVD release of
Close Encounters of the Third Kind written and directed by Steven Spielberg.

Immodest Proposals by William Tennreviewed by Nick Gevers
One of NESFA's worthiest projects yet is a two-volume Complete SF of William Tenn, of
which this is the first installment. To discover, or
rediscover, these remarkable stories from the 40s and 50s is to realize
all over again just how fresh and powerful the SF published in the pulp
magazines could be: how open its world-view was, how flexible its
conventions and "sense of wonder" were in the hands of laconic witty
philosophers like William Tenn.

Dark Universe by Daniel F. Galouyereviewed by Hank Luttrell
The surviving humans have been reduced to living underground in subsistence circumstances; after
generations of hiding underground they have forgotten most of their history. The failure of some of their life
support systems has forced them to live in complete darkness. In compensation for
the loss of vision, the sense of hearing has gained great acuity.

Astronomy by Richard Wadholmreviewed by Lisa DuMond
Everything about this debut novel recalls the dime novels of the early part of the 20th century. Tough and tender babes. Villainous foes.
Strong, silent heroes. Pure good versus evil stuff. Now, instead of "penny dreadfuls" you can
get all the action via ebook -- not a bad idea, not bad at all.

Star Wars: The Essential Guide to Alien Species by Ann Margaret Lewisreviewed by David Maddox
Ever wonder why the Ugnaughts ended up on Cloud City? Or how the Gungan language developed? Well, someone
did and now all those Star Wars questions you have (and dozens upon dozens you never knew
you did) will be answered.